Master of Arts in Mindfulness Studies

A Cutting-Edge Take on a Centuries-Old Concept

The western world is in the midst of a mindfulness movement that is poised to significantly impact the professional and educational landscapes in the coming years. From healthcare to business to social services, the applications are profound and wide-reaching. Neuroscience studies and burgeoning research demonstrate that sustained mindfulness practice brings about changes in the brain that enhance well-being.

Lesley’s Master of Arts in Mindfulness Program is the first of its kind in the United States. Unique in its concept and innovative in its design, this program is meant for those students who wish to enrich their lives and the lives of others by being mindful citizens and service providers. Like all Lesley graduate programs, our program places an emphasis on social engagement and leadership. You'll be prepared to bring mindfulness skills and knowledge into a variety of fields, including:

Mindfulness also has broad applications in the fields of technology, social services, psychology, consulting, professional coaching, law enforcement and the justice system, and clergy.

Details About the MA in Mindfulness Program

This 36-credit Master of Arts in Mindfulness Studies is a two-year program offered in a hybrid format, in which you start each year with an 8-day residency on Lesley’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During the residency you'll take classes, meet with faculty members, conduct research, and network with peers. Between residencies students will join classes and discussion from their home community via online tools.

We Practice What We Teach

At Lesley, Mindfulness is more than a curriculum. It’s a culture and part of daily life. We practice what we teach by taking a mindful approach to leadership and collaboration. We allocate time and space for mindful practice on our campuses, and sponsor regular events for students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment is deepened and sustained by research in the emerging field of contemplative neuroscience demonstrating that mindfulness practice can induce changes in the structure and function of the brain that promote sustained attention emotional regulation, memory, empathy, and more. Mindfulness is part of our institutional DNA.

Faculty and Our Interdisciplinary Framework

The Mindfulness faculty at Lesley come from a variety of disciplines, and bring with them an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship. They are frequent contributors to conferences and publications on mindfulness and mindful leadership. Our faculty have a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the history, benefits, and applications of mindfulness, from its classical roots to its contemporary significance as a subject of scientific study. This interdisciplinary approach to learning and practice is what sets Lesley apart in the fields of mindfulness and higher education, and what prepares our graduates to excel in their chosen fields.

Diana Chapman Walsh - 2013 Sonnabend Lecture

Sample Course Description

Mindful Leadership and Social Engagement3 Credits

This course provides students with an opportunity to explore how Buddhist ideas underlying mindfulness can be extended into the realm of leadership and engagement with the contemporary world. Students will gain understanding of principles of mindful leadership through close readings of translations of classical Buddhist teachings, current mindfulness texts, and neuroscientific studies demonstrating that meditation practice increases compassion. Students will investigate the meaning of these teachings in direct experience and apply them to social, cultural, historical, organizational, and political case studies.

Contact Us

Dean Koverola and Faculty Nancy Waring Featured on Radio Program About Mindfulness

Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences Dean Dr. Catherine Koverola and Mindfulness Faculty Coordinator Dr. Nancy Waring were recently featured on Fireside Talk Radio to discuss the various benefits and applications of Mindfulness. Click here to listen.

5 Benefits of Mindfulness Studies

Employers increasingly use mindfulness to help employees be more productive and achieve better results. London’s Financial Times recently explored the increasing use of Mindfulness training in Global Fortune 200 Companies. [Read More]

Mindfulness - Four Ways it Intersects Your World

From the healthcare industry to the military, a growing number of sectors have embraced mindfulness as a means of alleviating stress, boosting production, and creating more productive environments in which to work and learn. Read more.

Leading Mindfulness Practitioner Sharon Salzberg Visits Lesley

In 1974, Sharon Salzberg, along with Joseph Goldstein, returned from four years in India and introduced insight meditation to the United States. On a recent Sunday 40 years later, Salzberg was at Lesley University sharing reflections from her life in meditation and her latest best-selling book. The event was a benefit hosted by Lesley on behalf of Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. Read more.